The design of brutalist furniture encompasses that which is crafted, hewn and worked by hand — an aesthetic rebuke (or, at least, a counterpoint) to furniture that is created using 21st-century materials and technology. Lately, the word “brutalist” has been adopted by the realms of furniture design and the decorative arts to refer to chairs, cabinets, tables and accessory pieces such as mirror frames and lighting that are made of rougher, deeply textured metals and other materials that are the visual and palpable antithesis of the sleek, smooth and suave.
ORIGINS OF BRUTALIST FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF BRUTALIST FURNITURE DESIGN
BRUTALIST FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
VINTAGE BRUTALIST FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The term brutalism — which derives from the French word brut, meaning “raw” — was coined by architecture critic Reyner Banham to describe an architectural style that emerged in the 1950s featuring monumental buildings, usually made of unornamented concrete, whose design was meant to project an air of strength and solidity.
Le Corbusier essentially created the brutalist style; its best-known iterations in the United States are the Whitney Museum of American Art, which was designed by Marcel Breuer, and Paul Rudolph's Yale Art and Architecture Building. The severe style might have been the most criticized architectural movement of the 20th century, even if it was an honest attempt to celebrate the beauty of raw material. But while the brutalist government buildings in Washington, D.C., seemingly bask in their un-beauty, brutalist interior design and decor is much more lyrical, at times taking on a whimsical, romantic quality that its exterior counterparts lack.
Paul Evans is Exhibit A for brutalist furniture design. His Sculpture Front cabinets laced with high-relief patinated steel mounts have become collector's items nonpareil, while the chairs, coffee table and dining table in his later Cityscape series and Sculpted Bronze series for Directional Furniture are perhaps the most expressive, attention-grabbing pieces in American modern design. Other exemplary brutalist designers are Silas Seandel, the idiosyncratic New York furniture designer and sculptor whose works in metal — in particular his tables — have a kind of brawny lyricism, and Curtis Jere, a nom-de-trade for the California team of Curtis Freiler and Jerry Fels, the bold makers of expressive scorched and sheared copper and brass mirror frames and wall-mounted sculptures.
Brutalist furniture and sculptures remain popular with interior designers and can lend unique, eccentric, human notes to an art and design collection in any home.
Find authentic vintage brutalist chairs, coffee tables, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Wrought iron coffee table in the style of Lothar KluteCoffee table in the style
By Lothar Klute
Located in Saarbrücken, SL
Coffee table in artfully forged iron with a brown patina. Glass top specially cast and machined for this table.
Wrought Iron
1930s Italian Art Deco Brutalist Rational Bookmatched Burl Walnut Table, Pagano
By Gino Maggioni, Osvaldo Borsani, Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
A refined Italian Art Deco occasional table, side table or end table. Circa 1930s, it is veneered in richly figured book matched burl walnut. The piece reflects the transition betw...
Hardwood, Walnut, Burl
Solid Wood Coffee Table Serie 3 – Sereno by Joel Escalona for Elegant Spaces
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Solid Wood Coffee Table Serie 3 – Sereno by Joel Escalona for Elegant Spaces ——— Sereno Coffee Table Series – A Note from Joel Escalona What happens when structure becomes art? Th...
Hardwood
Outdoor Dining Table in Grey Stone Texture Contemporary Design
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Outdoor dining table with a refined grey stone-textured finish. Its tactile surface adds depth and character, while the muted grey tones create an elegant and contemporary foundation...
Cement, Iron
Brutalist Oak Coffee Table with Tiled Top
Located in London, London
A substantial brutalist coffee table with tiled top, dating to the 1960s–70s, notable for its weight, texture and sculptural construction. The solid timber frame is formed from thic...
Ceramic, Oak
Square Oak Dining Table in Solid Dark Brown European Oak - Aperta by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Inspired by light breaking through narrow voids in architectural structures, Aperta features a precise slit, creating a sense of lightness to its solid form. The Aperta Square Tabl...
Oak, Walnut
$2,613Sale Price / item|30% Off
Brutalist Vintage Solid Oak Coffee Table by Sergio Vulpe. In Stock
Located in Burlăceni, Cahul District
Brutalist Solid Oak Coffee Table by Sergio Vulpe Crafted from solid oak, this coffee table is inspired by the principles of Brutalist design, where beauty emerges from honest materi...
Oak
Minimalist Coffee Table Serie 58 – Sereno by Joel Escalona for Subtle Interiors
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Minimalist Coffee Table Serie 58 – Sereno by Joel Escalona for Subtle Interiors ——— Sereno Coffee Table Series – A Note from Joel Escalona What happens when structure becomes art? ...
Hardwood
Flying rock sculpture, monolith in composite material, stone effect, brutalist
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Flying rock sculpture, monolith in composite material, stone effect, brutalist. This flying rock sculpture resembles an ancient monolith with bold, powerful edges and a mix of smoot...
Composition
Contemporary 'PATHOS' Dining Table by Eichkorn, Burnt Ash Wood, Customizable
By Eichkorn
Located in Paris, IDF
PATHOS Dining Table by German contemporary design studio Eichkorn. Material: Burnt Ash Wood Standard size: H.75 x 280 x 180 cm - Customizations are possible Made from burnt ash woo...
Ash
Stag T Side Table by Rick Owen, Circa 2000, France
By Rick Owens
Located in Girona, Spain
DESCRIPTION: Stag T Side Table by Rick Owen, Circa 2000, France. This object is the Stag T Stool (also referred to as a side table), designed by the avant-garde fashion designer and...
Antler, Wood
Sculptural Side Table, Rustic, Burnt Black Wood, Carved, Handmade, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
These two sculptural blocks are functional art, each carved from a single piece of wood to maintain the raw integrity of the timber. The design features a blocky, monolithic form tha...
Wood, Oak
Coffee Table, Architectural Contemporary Design, Solid Oak, Hari by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Inspired by the simplicity of traditional Japanese architectural timber structures. The low coffee table balances three minimalist volumes composed of solid wooden parts. Designed b...
Oak, Walnut
Danish Modern Brutalist Dining Table in Pine, Hans Jørgen Frydendal, 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
A large rectangular dining table designed by Hans Jørgen Frydendal as part of the iconic “Christian IV” series, produced in Denmark during the 1970s. Crafted in solid patinated pomer...
Pine
Sculpted Massive Dining Table V7 in Solid Oakwood 'Custom Size' Dark
By Sóha, Denis Milovanov
Located in Paris, IDF
Massive dining table made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) (Outdoor use OK) Warm furniture’s made by Russian designer Denis Milovanov for 'Soha Concept' design studio. Simplicity of shapes. Authentic material. Wooden items are created from oak and are boiled in oil from several days to several weeks, to achieve a natural wood coloration from a dark brown to a complete black color. Patterns are applied solely by chain saw...
Oak
French Gouge-Carved Oak Side Table, C. 1960.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Solid oak table having a kidney-shaped top with bold hand-gouged carved surface, raised on three legs, exhibiting a sculptural, organic form and strong rustic character. Warm natural...
Oak
Oak Dining Table, Square top, Solid Dark Brown European Oak - Aperta by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Inspired by light breaking through narrow voids in architectural structures, Aperta features a precise slit, creating a sense of lightness to its solid form. The Aperta Square Tabl...
Oak, Walnut
Sculpted Massive Dining Table V3 in Solid Oakwood 'Custom Size'
By Denis Milovanov, Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Massive dining table made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) (Outdoor use OK) Warm furniture’s made by Russian designer Denis Milovanov for 'Soha Concept' design studio. Simplicity of shapes. Authentic material. Wooden items are created from oak and are boiled in oil from several days to several weeks, to achieve a natural wood coloration from a dark brown to a complete black color. Patterns are applied solely by chain saw...
Oak
Sculptural Side Table, Solid Wood, Black, Rustic, Oak, Pedestal, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
Chainsaw carved side table/pedestal. Carved from a single piece of burnt oak wood and protected with the highest quality oils, ensuring durability for generations. Such unique handma...
Wood, Oak
Side Table, Solid Burnt Wood, Oak, Chainsaw Carved, Rustic, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
Chainsaw carved coffee table/side table. Carved from a single piece of burnt oak wood and protected with the highest quality oils, ensuring durability for generations. Such unique ha...
Wood, Oak
$2,600Sale Price / item|20% Off
Cleo Baldon Style Iron Dining Table In Pink / Marble Granite
By Cleo Baldon
Located in Round Top, TX
Iron and pink granite/marble for indoor/outdoor dining. The perfect table for two to four people...truly lovely. The tones range from salmon pink to rusty sienna with veining in ivor...
Granite, Iron
Coffee table with vintage yellow glass top and modern steel base
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
This brutalist-style coffee table features a modern base in rust-effect patinated steel and a thick vintage yellow glass top that we sourced ourselves. Please note that the glass sho...
Steel
$1,260Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Coffee Table by Marcus Kingma with Stone Inlays, 1986
Located in Oirlo, LI
Crafted in 1986 by Dutch designer Marcus Kingma, this table stands as a striking example of artistic craftsmanship passed from one generation to the next. As the son of celebrated ar...
Stone
Paul Kingma Slate, Stone, and Brass Inlaid Coffee Table, 1974
By Paul Kingma
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A rectangular coffee table by Dutch artist Paul Kingma, signed and dated 1974. The surface features an inlaid composition of slate, stone, and brass, arranged in a balanced, geometri...
Stone, Slate, Brass
Sculptural Coffee Table, Side Table, Rustic, Burnt Wood, Black, Oak Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
Chainsaw carved coffee table. Carved from a single piece of burnt oak wood and protected with the highest quality oils, ensuring durability for generations. Such unique handmade desi...
Wood, Oak
$7,001 / item
Sculpted Brutalist End Table 'CT-8' 'Solid Oak'
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
End table CT-8 by Denis Milovanov x Soha Concept (Side table, end table, stool, pedestal...) Material: Solid oak Dimensions: H 40 x 45 x 45 cm SÓHA desi...
Oak
Vintage Danish Brutalist Oak Dining Table, 1960s.
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish Brutalist Oak Dining Table, 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century modern rectangular dining room table in Nordic oak. Very likely desi...
Oak
James de Wulf Concrete Round Side Table, Standard Colors
Located in Paia, HI
This simple, elegant side table is constructed of one solid piece of concrete. Its low center of gravity offers grounding and stability. This table lends a high level of sophistication to any setting. Available in Natural Tone (as shown), Light Grey, Dark Grey Premium colors available Suitable for Outdoor use James de Wulf has been widely recognized for his original and innovative work with concrete design and rapidly became known for his ability to fuse advanced concrete technology with aesthetic, modern, and natural concrete forms...
Concrete
Adrian Pearsall Cast Resin Brutalist Dining Table, 1960's
Located in Culver City, CA
Designed by the legendary Adrian Pearsall, this brutalist dining table base was his answer to Evans’ high-end, sculptural designs—because n...
Steel
Sculptural Vintage Travertine Coffee Table with Glass Top, Italy 1970s
Located in Hellouw, NL
Atkris Studio presents a coffee table that balances architectural clarity with organic movement. Its form feels carved rather than constructed, allowing material and silhouette to le...
Travertine
Brutalist Style Coffee Table Ft Portoro Brecciato Marble Top
Located in New York, NY
A contemporary addition to your living space, this piece radiates the beauty of nature and serves a practical purpose. The coffee table features a captivating organic shape that draw...
Marble
$4,550
Zebra coffee table
Located in Paris, FR
VINCENT COLLIN (born 1963) Zebra wrought iron coffee table Hammered and patinated wrought iron, frosted glass top
Iron
$15,999Sale Price / item|20% Off
NONO Sideboard Elefante 26, Design by Joel Escalona, Sculpted Silhouette
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
NONO Sideboard Elefante 26, Design by Joel Escalona, Sculpted Silhouette ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a...
Hardwood
1990s Brutalist-Style Glass and Bronze Dining Table by Barilone for Roche Bobois
By Maurice Barilone, Roche Bobois
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
A hard-to-find Brutalist-style tempered, beveled, and smoked glass top and bronze base dining table by Maurice Barilone for Roche Bobois. The 1990's oval glass table top sits upon a ...
Bronze
SIDE TABLE Jean-Paul Barray & Kim Moltzer
By Kim Moltzer, Jean-Paul Barray
Located in Forest, BE
Jean-Paul Barray and Kim Moltzer, renowned French furniture designers, are particularly noted for their collaboration on the «Penta Chair.» Barray was a versatile designer, painter, ...
Metal
A pair of 1970’s Paul Kingma Attributed Brutalist Mosaic Side Tables in Slate
By Paul Kingma
Located in Charleston, SC
Paul Kingma style The tables are slate with multicolored inlays of terracotta, ceramic, and many different color natural stone with slate bases. No 2 tables are the same. Paul Kingm...
Stone, Slate
Christopher Chodoff “Etruscan” Bronze and Glass Coffee Table
By Christopher Chodoff
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Coffee table designed by Christopher Chodoff, United States, circa 1980s. Rectangular form with a clear inset glass top set within a patinated solid bronze frame. The base is compose...
Bronze
Solid Wood Sculptural Side Table, Charred Black Wood, Handmade, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
Unique chainsaw carved wooden functional sculpture usable as a multifunctional piece such as, tabouret, side table, night stand or even pedestal for your art. Carved from a single pi...
Wood
French 19th Century Carpenter’s Workbench
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French 19th century workbench is a fascinating relic of technology from before the assembly line, a hybrid of artisanal rusticity and industrial innovations. The top planks are ...
Iron
Spanish Brutalist Coffee Table in Solid Oak, Metal and Patinated Leather 1940s
By BIOSCA
Located in Meer, VAN
Spanish Brutalist Coffee Table in Solid Oak, Metal and Patinated Cognac Leather, 1940s or 1950s. This is a wonderful, rare, early and untouched 1940s or 1950s coffee table with a co...
Metal
Mid 20th Century Brutalist sculptural slate cast iron table
Located in London, GB
Mid 20th Century Brutalist sculptural slate cast iron table A Highly decorative hand crafted Brutalist wrought iron slate table, from the South of France. It is constructed from a s...
Stone, Slate, Wrought Iron
Brutalist Slate and Stone Coffee Table in the Style of Paul Kingma, 1970s
By Paul Kingma
Located in London, London
Brutalist Slate and Stone Coffee Table in the Style of Paul Kingma, 1970s A striking Brutalist coffee table in the manner of Dutch artist Paul Kingma, dating to the 1970s. The circu...
Stone, Slate, Brass
$5,546Sale Price|30% Off
Brutalist Coffee Table in Solid Black Oak - Hari by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
This Hari coffee table is a showroom model in excellent condition. This listing is for the specific piece you see on the photos. The coffee table is designed by Aad Bos and crafted i...
Oak
$3,200Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Cathedral Coffee Table by Silas Seandel
Located in New York, NY
Impressive brutalist cathedral coffee table by Silas Seandel, circa 1970s. The table features a thick (.75 in.) round plate glass top (shows inc...
Brass, Bronze
Solid teak brutalist coffee table from the 1970s
Located in LYON, FR
Maison Lecan presents this exceptional solid teak brutalist coffee table from the 1970s. A strong statement piece defined by its thick organic tabletop and raw, authentic design. It...
Teak
Mid Century Iron and Glass Console Table
Located in Bradenton, FL
Brutalist Style Black Iron and Glass Console or Sofa Table, circa 1970s, in the style reminiscent of Giacometti. Brutalist furniture, popularized from the 1950s through the 1970s, em...
Iron
Brutalist Style Metal Tree with Birds Side Table with Glass Top
Located in Pasadena, TX
This table is crafted in the brutalist Style. It's made of patinated metal. The base is a tree with limbs and birds. The top is fitted glass.
Metal
Floating Console In Composite Material, Stone Effect, Brutalist Style
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Floating Console In Composite Material, Stone Effect, Brutalist Style. Floating console in composite material with stone effect. this floating console reproduces the appearance of a...
Composition
Giulio Lazzotti "Stonehenge" Dining Table, 1970s
Located in Raleigh, NC
A powerful and striking piece. Hand carved and chiseled of solid diorite. This piece date to the 1970s from Italy. A simple yet stunning form by Giulio Lazzotti. Legs are indiv...
Stone
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 61, Smooth Solid Wood, Sleek Style
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 60, Smooth Solid Wood, Sleek Style ————————————————————— Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO Crafting Elegance with a...
Hardwood
Concrete Circular Dining Table Atlante Ultra High Perfomance Cement Mortar
Located in Rome, Lazio
Atlante is a round dining table with essential lines and a strong inspiration. Completely fashioned in UHPC concrete mortar by a team of expert artisans, this table perfeclty emodie...
Concrete
Cruciform Base Round Edges Solid Wood Round Table By NONO Fundamenta 08
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Round coffee table with cross legs made of solid oak. Product made to order; some variances may apply to the final piece. —— NONO is a Mexican design brand with more than 10 years...
Wood, Hardwood, Oak
$300Sale Price|62% Off
Mid Century Modern Brutalist Torch-Cut Iron Side Table
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Handmade low table with torch-cut Iron base in the Brutalist style of Paul Evans. Great texture and negative space in the metal of the base; design gives the ...
Iron
$12,470Sale Price / item|20% Off
Socle No31 Architectural Console by NONO for Modern Spaces
By NONO
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Socle No31 Architectural Console by NONO for Modern Spaces ————————————————————— The Socle Console Series by NONO reinterprets the plinth as a family of sculptural consoles in solid...
Hardwood
Paul Kingma rectangular Coffee table , 1970’s
By Paul Kingma
Located in Delft, NL
Paul Kingma rectangular Coffee table , 1970’s Dimensions: 140 cm W, 79,5cm D , 32 cm H Material: Natural stone , Metal Color: Brown , Black , Gold
Stone, Metal
Modern Coffee Table Serie 43 – Sereno by NONO for Contemporary Spaces
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Modern Coffee Table Serie 43 – Sereno by NONO for Contemporary Spaces ———— Sereno Coffee Table Series – A Note from Joel Escalona What happens when structure becomes art? These ar...
Hardwood
Early 20th C. African Copper and Brass Chess Table + Bronze Game Pieces
Located in North Miami, FL
This Early 20th Century African low chess table/ game table is made of brass, copper and painted metal with a wonderful wood base. Great details by ha...
Metal, Brass, Bronze, Copper
Brutalist Slate and Stone Coffee Table with Copper Inlay Kingma Style
By Paul Kingma
Located in London, London
Brutalist Slate and Stone Coffee Table with Copper Inlay In the Style of Paul Kingma A striking 1980s Brutalist slate coffee table with ...
Slate, Copper
$7,200Sale Price / item|20% Off
Joel Escalona's Elefante Side Table 12, Rounded Silhouette, Walnut Wood
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's Elefante Side Table 12, Rounded Silhouette, Decorative Craft ————————————————————— The base product is made of solid walnut wood. Other wood...
Hardwood
Brutalist Stool in European Oak - Cadence by Mokko
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The Cadence stool is inspired by the simplicity and power of the rhythmic stepped brickwork visible in the architecture of Amsterdam's 'South Plan' area; the city development plan de...
Oak